North Long Beach shooting leaves at least one man injured

LONG BEACH - Police are investigating a brazen midday shooting in North Long Beach on Wednesday that left a man injured, though he is expected to survive, authorities said.

Police and Long Beach Fire Department crews were called to the 1300 block of East 67th Street at about 1:32 p.m. after shots were fired in the area, said Lisa Massacani, a Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman.

Officers and paramedics found an adult male victim who was shot in the lower body. He was rushed by paramedics to a local hospital, Massacani said.

Officers and a crime scene unit were canvassing the scene most of the afternoon. Bullet casings could be seen in the middle of 67th Street, a residential road that runs parallel to the Artesia (91) Freeway.

"It's usually pretty quiet this way, and worse over there," said Lupe Cabrera, gesturing south toward Artesia Boulevard.

Cabrera was walking her 8-year-old daughter Esperanza home from nearby Grant Elementary School when they stopped to peer over the yellow crime scene tape that was strung across 67th Street at Orange Avenue.

Several people walking in the area of the crime scene said they heard multiple gunshots and one said it sounded like a semi-automatic weapon.

"It was one shot and then at least two more, but they were close together," a man said, declining to give his name.

Police declined to name the man who was shot, noting he is the victim of a violent crime. His name and city of residence were still being confirmed Wednesday afternoon, Massacani said.

The motive for the shooting also remained under investigation, said Nancy Pratt, an LBPD spokeswoman.

Anyone who witnessed the attack is asked to call the Long Beach Police Department's Violent Crimes Division, at 562-570-7250.